Rotating silverware basket for dishwasher

ABSTRACT

A dishwasher having a holder for holding silverware to be washed rotatably mounted on a dish holding rack in the washing chamber. The silverware basket is rotated on the dish holding rack so as to permit subjecting silverware carried thereby to a spray of washing liquid, with the spray striking the silverware in different angular positions as the silverware basket revolves. The spray itself may have movement relative to the dish holding rack and silverware holding basket, and in the illustrated embodiment is provided by a rotating spray arm. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the rotation of the silverware basket is effected by a supplemental spray acting against vanes on the rotatable silverware basket.

United States Patent 1191 Brenner et a1.

1 1 ROTATING SILVERWARE BASKET FOR DISHWASHER [75] Inventors: Robert A.Brenner, St. Joseph;

Victor W. Cuthbert, Sodus, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich.

[22] Filed: Feb. 11, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 225,503

[ Dec. 18, 1973 3,288,155 11/1966 Swetnam 134/176 1,435,212 11 1922Connor 134/139 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Bleutge Art0rneyJames S.Nettleton et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A dishwasher having a holder for holding silverware to bewashed rotatably mounted on a dish holding rack in the washing chamber.The silverware basket is rotated on the dish holding rack so as topermit subjecting silverware carried thereby to a spray of washingliquid, with the spray striking the silverware in different angularpositions as the silverware basket revolves. The spray itself may havemovement relative to the dish holding rack and silverware holdingbasket, and in the illustrated embodiment is provided by a rotatingspray arm. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the rotation of thesilverware basket is effected by a supplemental spray acting againstvanes on the rotatable silverware basket.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIEIJHEB 1 ms 3; 779.258

SHEET 16F 23 PAIENTH] DEC 1 8 I975 SHEET 2 EF 2 ROTATING SILVERWAREBASKET FOR DISHWASHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates to dishwashers, and, in particular, todishwashers having silverware holding means.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the conventional dishwasher, areceptacle is provided for holding the silverware separately from thedishes. Usually'the silverware holding means comprises a separate baskethaving wall means for supporting the silverware in an upright position.It is desirable in such dishwashers to provide improved washing actionrelative to the silverware, which in many cases has difficult to removematter thereon. A problem arises in that the supporting walls tend tohinder the washing action of the conventional spray means provided forcontacting the silverware with the washing liquid.

To provide such improved washing action, it has heretofore been proposedto utilize a moving silverware basket carried by the dish holding rack.One example of such a dishwashing apparatus is shown in the Maloney U.S. Pat. No. 1,540,793. Therein, the silverware holder is pivotallymounted on a horizontal shaft so as to be swung back and forth about theaxis of the shaft as the result of the impingement of washing liquidspray against a pair of vanes extending oppositely outwardly away fromthe shaft axis. The washing liquid is delivered onto the vanes from asprinkler head, which is in turn rocked back and forth to wash thesilverware in the holder. Thus, the holder and spray are synchronized tomove back and forth together, with the center of the spray beingselectively directed toward different ones of the two vanes on thesilverware holder.

In the Schleyer et al. U. S. Pat. No. 2,712,826, a dishwashing machineis shown to utilize a silverware holding basket which rotates with thedish holding rack about the center axis of the spray means. In thiscase, the spray means is stationary and the basket rotates as a resultof dish reaction from the spray streams.

In the Swetnam U. S. Pat. No. 3,288,155, a pair of spray arms isprovided, cooperating with a fixed silverware holding means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates an improveddishwasher structure wherein the silverware basket is rotatably mountedon the dish holding basket. Means are provided for rotating thesilverware basket, and in the illustrated embodiment comprise spraymeans acting against vanes on the silverware basket. Silverware in thesilverware basket is washed by sprays of washing liquid delivered from apair of spray arms, herein one under and one over the silverware basket,so that a changing relationship of the silverware in the silverwarebasket to the direction of washing liquid spray is provided for improvedwashing of the silverware.

Thus, the present invention comprehends means for moving the silverwarebasket relative to the dish holding means independently of the action ofthe washing spray directed thereagainst by the washing spray means.Resultingly, the silverware holding means has two different movementsrelative to the spray means for providing such improved efficiency inthe washing of the silverware. One relative movement is effected by themovement of the silverware holding means bodily,

and the second relative movement is effected by the rotation of thespray arms.

The rotation of the silverware holding basket herein is about a verticalaxis, and the reaction means on the silverware holding means comprisesvanes extending downwardly from the holding means. The force means maycomprise a jet of washing liquid different from the spray means jetsdirected upwardly toward the vanes from the supply of washing liquidunder pressure. The spray arms may rotate about a vertical axis spacedfrom the vertical axis of the silverware holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial vertical section of a dishwasher having a silverwarewashing means embodying the invention, with the rack thereof shown inbroken lines in a loading position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged front elevation thereof, with portionsbroken away to facilitate illustration of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section illustrating therelationship of the spray means and silverware holder, takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form of adishwasher embodying the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially along theline 55 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the exemplary embodiments ofthe invention as disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawing, adishwasher generally designated is shown to comprise a cabinet 11defining a dishwashing chamber 12. The cabinet is provided with a frontopening 13 selectively closed by a front door 14 provided with asuitable handle 15 for swinging the door about a lower horizontal pivot16 between an upright chamber-closing position and a forwardly extendinghorizontal chamber-opening position. Dishes to be washed are placed on apair of racks, including a lower rack 17 and an upper rack 18, which areselectively movable from an operative position in the chamber 12, asshown in full lines in FIG. 1, to a loading position at least partiallyoutwardly of the chamber 12, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. Thedishwasher 10 further includes a pump 19 driven by a suitable electricmotor 20 for forcibly pumping washing liquid into the chamber 12 bymeans of a pair of spray arms 21 and 22. Spray arm 21 is rotatablymounted on a bearing 23 carried on the pump 19 for rotation subjacent tothe lower rack 17, so as to permit spraying of the washing liquidforcibly upwardly through the rack 17 onto the dishes carried thereonduring the dishwashing operation. The bearing 23 further includes anoutlet element 24 for directing a stream of washing liquid upwardly intoa receiver 26 associated with the upper spray arm 22, with the force ofthe stream effecting a rotation of the spray arm 22 and a forcibledelivery of the liquid from the spray arm onto the lower rack 17 andupwardly into the upper rack 18. In the illustrated embodiment, thespray arm 22 is rotatably mounted on the upper basket 18. The washingliquid is returned to pump 19 upon falling from the baskets 17 and 18 asa result of the collection thereof in a sump 27. Thus, the dishwashingliquid may be circulated continuously dur ing the dishwashing operationto provide a forceful washing action in chamber 12.

The invention comprehends providing a silverware basket generallydesignated 28 mounted for improved washing of silverware placed therein.In the illustrated embodiment, the silverware basket 28 is carried on anupright post 29 mounted on a bottom wire 30 of the lower rack 17. Thebasket 28 includes a central socket member 31 rotatably fitted on theupper end of the post 29 to permit rotation of the basket about thevertical axis of post 29. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the socket member 31may be formed of molded plastic, and in the illustrated embodiment, theentire basket 28 comprises a plastic molding for facilitated manufactureand minimum cost. The basket may include a foraminous outer wall 32 anda plurality of radially extending dividing walls 33 cooperating with thesocket element 31 to define a plurality of silverware holding spaces orcompartments 34 opening upwardly from the basket to receive thesilverware to be washed. The silverware rests in the basket on a bottomwall 35. Depending from bottom wall 35 are a plurality of vanes 36comprising reaction members arranged to cause rotation of the basketabout the vertical axis of post 29 as a result of the impingement offluid under pressure thereagainst. As shown in FIG. 3, such action maybe effected by a nozzle 37 provided on spray arm 21. Thus, the stream 38of dishwashing liquid under pressure ejected from nozzle 37 impinges onthe vanes 36 as the spray arm 21 rotates about the vertical axis ofbearing 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle 37 provides a jet streamagainst the vanes 36 once during each revolution of the spray arm 21.The stream 38 reacts against the vanes to rotate the basket 28 about theaxis of post 29 so that, in effect, the basket is spun on the dishholding rack 17 for movement relative to the dish holding rack. At thesame time, the dishwashing liquid is sprayed upwardly by washing liquidnozzles 39 on spray arm 21 and downwardly by washing liquid nozzles 40on spray arm 22 to enter the silverware basket and effectively wash thesilverware disposed therein. As a result of the double relative movementbetween the basket and the washing means, an improved efficient washingof the silverware is effected. in a the spray from washing nozzles 39and 40 moves ina large circle toward the bottom and top of thesilverware basket, while at the same time the basket is rotated about avertical axis so as to present different of the compartments 34 anddifferent surfaces of the silverware therein to the spray streams. Theprovision of the spray nozzle 37 on the spray arm provides anintermittent rotational force to the basket for providing improvedvariation in the presentation of the silverware surfaces to thedishwashing streams. Further, the weight of the silverware and theeffective balance thereof effects the speed and uniformity of rotationso as to provide a further variable in the washing action, effectingfurther improved cleaning of the silverware.

The washing liquid from nozzles 39 passes into the basket through aplurality of apertures 41 in the bottom wall 35 as well as through theforaminous side wall 32, to provide a washing of the silverware bothfrom the bottom and from the side. Further, the bottom apertures 41permit a rapid draining of the washing liquid from the spaces 34 betweenthe passes of the spray arms 21 and 22, to provide further improvedwashing of the silverware on the basket 28.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the delivery of thestream of washing liquid under pressure against the vanes 36 mayalternatively be effected by a nozzle 42 connected directly to thebearing 24 so as to remain stationary and provide a constant rotation ofthe basket 28 as a result of the impingement of the stream 38' seriatimagainst the vanes 36. As shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle 42 may comprise anelongated tube extending from the bearing 24 to closely adjacent thebottom of the basket 28 so that the stream 38 is directed forciblyagainst the vanes 36 as they move successively to adjacent the dischargeend of the nozzle. Here, again, the basket is caused to have twomovements relative to the spray, namely, a rotational movement about theaxis of the post 29 and an intermittent relative movement effected bythe swinging of the spray arms therepast.

As the silverware in the basket 28 is exposed constantly at differentangles to the washing liquid streams, improved washing of the silverwareis effected. As different portions of the basket are exposed to thewashing liquid streams, the location of the basket in the chamber 12 maybe varied in accordance with the requirements of the dishwashing rackloading arrangement. The invention contemplates alternatively providingan intermittent rotation of the basket or a generally constant rotationin combination with the swinging movement of the spray arms to providethe desired improved silverware washing action.

Having described the invention, the embodiments of the invention inwhich an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined asfollows:

1. In a dishwasher having a washing chamber, dishrack means for holdingdishes to be washed in said chamber, and movable spray means forspraying dishwashing liquid in said chamber for washing the dishes,silverware washing means comprising:

means for holding silverware to be washed and having reaction meansthereon;

means for rotationally mounting said silverware holding means on saiddishrack means for subjecting silverware held by said silverware holdingmeans to the spray of said dishwashing liquid from said spray means; and

a fixed nozzle directing a fluid stream against the reaction means ofsaid silverware holding means for moving said silverware holding meansrelative to said dishrack means and independently of the action of spraydirected thereagainst by said spray means whereby said silverwareholding means has two different movements relative to said spray meansfor washing of silverware in said silverware holding means.

2. The dishwasher means of claim 1 wherein said spray means and dishrackmeans have relative rotational movement about a first axis and saidsilverware holding means has rotational movement about a second axis.

3. The dishwasher means of claim 1 wherein said silverware holding meansis mounted on said dish holding means for rotation about a verticalaxis.

4. The dishwasher means of claim 1 wherein said spray means is rotatableabout a first axis, and said silverware holding means is mounted forrotation about a vertical axis noncoincident with said first axis.

5. The dishwasher means of claim 1 wherein said fixed nozzle is meansfor moving said silverware holding means comprises hydraulic meansincluding reaction means on said silverware holding means and means fordirecting a hydraulic jet carried by a stationary portion of saidmovable spray means.

6. In a dishwasher including dishrack means for supporting dishes withinsaid dishwasher, silverware washing means comprising: a basket; meansfor rotatably mounting the basket on said dishrack means for rotationabout a substantially vertical axis; reaction means on the basket; meansfor directing a fluid stream against the reaction means to rotate thebasket; and rotatable spray means for spraying silverware in the basketwith a washing liquid in a moving distribution independently of themovement of the basket by the fluid stream and reaction means, saidreaction means comprising a plurality of vanes on said basket, and saidfluid stream directing means comprising a fixed nozzle.

7. The dishwasher silverware washing means of claim 6 wherein saidreaction means comprises a plurality of vanes on said basket, and saiddishwasher includes a single pump for providing said fluid stream andfor spraying said washing liquid.

8. The dishwasher silverware washing means of claim 6 wherein saidsilverware spray means comprises a spray arm rotatable about a fixedaxis and said basket is mounted for rotation about a second axis spacedfrom and parallel to said first axis.

1. In a dishwasher having a washing chamber, dishrack means for holdingdishes to be washed in said chamber, and movable spray means forspraying dishwashing liquid in said chamber for washing the dishes,silverware washing means comprising: means for holding silverware to bewashed and having reaction means thereon; means for rotationallymounting said silverware holding means on said dishrack means forsubjecting silverware held by said silverware holding means to the sprayof said dishwashing liquid from said spray means; and a fixed nozzledirecting a fluid stream against the reaction means of said silverwareholding means for moving said silverware holding means relative to saiddishrack means and independently of the action of spray directedthereagainst by said spray means whereby said silverware holding meanshas two different movements relative to said spray means for washing ofsilverware in said silverware holding means.
 2. The dishwasher means ofclaim 1 wherein said spray means and dishrack means have relativerotational movement about a first axis and said silverware holding meanshas rotational movement about a second axis.
 3. The dishwasher means ofclaim 1 wherein said silverware holding means is mounted on said dishholding means for rotation about a vertical axis.
 4. The dishwashermeans of claim 1 wherein said spraying means is rotatable about a firstaxis, and said silverware holding means is mounted for rotation about avertical axis noncoincident with said first axis.
 5. The dishwashermeans of claim 1 wherein said fixed nozzle is means for moving saidsilverware holding means comprises hydraulic means including reactionmeans on said silverware holding means and means for directing ahydraulic jet carried by a stationary portion of said movable spraymeans.
 6. In a dishwasher including dishrack means for supporting disheswithin said dishwasher, silverware washing means comprising: a basket;means for rotatably mounting the basket on said dishrack means forrotation about a substantially vertical axis; reaction means on thebasket; means for directing a fluid stream against the reaction means torotate the basket; and rotatable spray means for spraying silverware inthe basket with a washing liquid in a moving distribution independentlyof the movement of the basket by the fluid stream and reaction means,said reaction means comprising a plurality of vanes on said basket, andsaid fluid stream directing means comprising a fixed nozzle.
 7. Thedishwasher silverware washing means of claim 6 wherein said reactionmeans comprises a plurality of vanes on said basket, and said dishwasherincludes a single pump for providing said fluid stream and for sprayingsaid washing liquid.
 8. The dishwasher silverwarE washing means of claim6 wherein said silverware spraying means comprises a spray arm rotatableabout a fixed axis and said basket is mounted for rotation about asecond axis spaced from and parallel to said first axis.